Nigerian youngster Nefeye Osazee has signed his first professional contract with Premier League club AFC Bournemouth, several years after beginning his football development at CitySports in Lagos.
The 15-year-old completed the deal on Wednesday, marking another step in a journey that began at the age of six.
Osazee joined CitySports in 2017, where he trained regularly and featured in the CitySports League before moving to England in 2022.
He continued his development with Slough Town and later earned a place in Arsenal’s academy after a successful trial in which he reportedly scored 10 goals in nine matches.
Osazee spent three years at Arsenal’s Hale End academy before joining Bournemouth ahead of the 2026/27 season.
His first professional contract with Bournemouth has been welcomed by CitySports founder and Chief Executive Officer, Shola Opaleye, who recalled the youngster’s early days at the Lagos-based academy.
“When Nefeye joined us, he was just a young boy who loved football. Nobody can tell exactly where a six-year-old's journey will eventually lead, so at that stage our responsibility was simply to give him a good environment to learn, develop and enjoy the game,” Opaleye said.
“To see that same young boy progress to Arsenal and now sign his first professional contract with AFC Bournemouth is very special. We are proud of him, proud of his family and proud that CitySports was part of the early chapter of his journey.”
Opaleye said Osazee’s progression showed the importance of treating youth football development as a long-term process rather than focusing solely on securing professional contracts at an early age.
He added that several people and institutions had contributed to the youngster’s development.
“Nefeye's story has taken years. CitySports was one part of that journey, Arsenal was another, his family has played an enormous role, and many coaches and people have contributed along the way.
“That is what development looks like. No academy should promise a child a professional contract. What we can promise is to work seriously on their development, create the right environment and help prepare them so that when opportunities come, they are ready.”
Osazee’s achievement comes as CitySports prepares to expand its athlete-development programmes in 2027 under its Develop, Compete, Progress pathway.
Opaleye said the academy would continue to monitor and support Osazee’s career, while describing his first professional contract as the beginning of another stage in his development.
“This moment belongs to Nefeye and his family. Signing your first professional contract is a major achievement, but it is also the beginning of another level of work. We will continue to follow his journey and support him from afar. Once CitySports, always CitySports,” he said.
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